July 3 Letters: Fourth of July, God Bless America

July 02, 2014

Their sacrifice

This Fourth of July there will be widespread travel and fireworks displays. It seems that people have forgotten that they can do these things because of patriots at the first July 4 and all those since who have given the extreme sacrifice to maintain our religious and individual freedoms. The original patriots left behind a legacy that would be carried on in the American spirit of individual decisions which would destine to become the great nation we are today. The original patriots made contributions to create the foundation that created the American spirit of "can-do," as history reflects over and over again.

But as Thomas Jefferson said, "What country can preserve its liberty if it rulers are not warned from time to time, that the people preserve the spirit of resistance?" For all those patriots and their families here and in combat areas, we thank you and apologize for how Washington has disrespected the military. We thank you for your indomitable spirit and the sacrifices that you have made in protecting our liberties and continuing the legacy of all the patriots of our first July 4. May God continue to bless you and this nation.

Mark P Cernak Sr.

Chesapeake

'God Bless America'

Millions of people have come to America and most for the same reason — to be free, to be equal as God made us to be. Most of us know the words to "God Bless America" but I have learned that many don't know the beautiful introduction to this song, and that every word is really a prayer put to music. Irving Berlin's words express exactly how he feels about being able to be here, in America:

"While the storm clouds gather/Far across the sea/Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free; Let us all be grateful/For a land so fair/As we raise our voices, in a solemn prayer."

Mr. Berlin wrote this in 1918 but no one was interested in it. Then, in 1938, when another war in Europe was starting, people came to him and asked him to write a new song for Americans to sing, to lift their spirits. It was then that he pulled out the song he wrote in 1918, changed a few words, and presented it for Kate Smith to sing on her radio program. The response was tremendous and America loves it still.